French Long Course Championships: Flash! Fred Bousquet Becomes First Human Under 21 Seconds in 50 Free

MONTPELLIER, France, April 26. FRED Bousquet threw down an insane time in the men's 50 free, becoming the first human under 21 seconds.

He obliterated Eamon Sullivan's world record of 21.28 from the Australian Olympic Trials with an eye-popping, jaw-dropping, stupidly fast time of 20.94. Alain Bernard was also under the previous record with a 21.23. Amaury Leveaux took third in 21.59, and Fabien Gilot was fourth in 21.65.

Because Amaury Leveaux was pre-selected to swim the 50 free at the world championships based on his silver medal in the 50 at the Beijing Olympics, Bousquet has earned the spot as the second swimmer from France to swim the event in Rome.

Six swimmers clipped the 30-second barrier in semifinals of the women's 50 back. Esther Baron touched just a hair ahead of Elizabeth Longhill, as they posted times of 29.27 and 29.28. Alison Leger will be seeded third with a 29.30, followed by Alexandra Putra (29.60), Alexianne Castel (29.81) and Cloe Credeville (29.84).

In the men's mile, Nicolas Rostoucher broke the 15-minute barrier with a 14:57.42, good for a new Championship record. His time was just off Sebastien Rouault's French record of 14:55.73. Anthony Pannier was second in 15:06.14, while Rouault took third in 15:16.79.

Camille Lacourt bettered his old French record of 25.22 in the men's 50 back with a top-qualifying time of 24.90 in the semifinals, but that was just outside the 24.88 Jeremy Stravius swam in prelims to set a new French record. Spain's David Ortega touched well back in 25.53, with Jeremy Stravius (25.60), Pierre Roger (25.63) and Benjamin Stasiulis (25.87) right behind. Both Stravius and Lacourt should be gunning for Liam Tancock's European record of 24.47 in finals.

Coralie Balmy held off Camille Muffat en route to a new Championship record in the final of the women's 200 free. Balmy touched in a time of 1:57.29, ahead of Muffat's 1:57.98. The previous record of 1:57.48 was held by Laure Manadou. Ophelie Cyrielle Etienne grabbed the third podium spot with a 1:58.44.

After top-seed Ahmed Mathlouthi scratched, Gregory Mallet seized the opportunity in men's 200 free final. Mallet stroked his way to a winning time of 1:47.91, half a second in front of Kevin Trannoy. Guillaume Strohmeyer slipped into third with a 1:48.94, and Sebastien Bodet was the only other man under 1:50 with a 1:49.19.

Fanny Babou cruised her way to a new French record in the women's 100 breast, taking over 3-tenths off of Anne-Sophie Le Paranthoen's record of 1:08.68 with a 1:08.37. Second-place finisher Sophie De Ronchi also cleared the old record with a 1:08.41. Coralie Dobral placed third in 1:08.74, and the top qualifier from semis, Morocco's Sara El Bekri, slipped to fourth with a 1:08.96.

Brazil's Henrique Ribiero Marques easily topped the field in the men's 100 breast, winning by over a second in a time of 1:00.24. French record-holder Hugues Duboscq took second in 1:01.26 and was closely pursued by Tony De Pellegrini (1:01.29) and Giacomo Perez Dortona (1:01.33).

Camille Muffat continued her strong meet with a stellar time in the women's 200 IM. Muffat obliterated her French record and squeaked in under Hannah Miley's European record with a 2:09.37. Muffat's previous record stood at 2:11.15, while Miley's record was 2:09.59. Muffat is now less than a second off Stephanie Rice's world record of 2:08.45, set in Beijing. Sophie De Ronchi, just out of the 100 breast, picked up second in 2:12.84 and Lara Grangeon was third in 2:13.06.

South Africa's Darian Townsend added a chunk of time from his semifinal swim in the men's 200 IM, but it was still more than enough to top Fabien Horth. Townsend swam the event in 1:58.85 after posting a 1:57.03 yesterday. Horth, meanwhile, swam to a new French record of 1:59.58, breaking the record Christophe Soulier (2:00.38) set yesterday. Soulier took third in 2:01.36.

Malia Metella added the 50 free national record to the one she set yesterday in the 100, winning the event in a solid 24.69. Her previous standard was 24.83, set last year. Hanna Shcherba Lorgeril touched second in 25.32, followed by Aurore Mongrel (25.39). Seven of the eight finalists broke the 26.00 barrier.

Esther Baron took the top spot in the women's 50 back with a new Championship record of 28.76. Laure Manadou held the previous record of 28.93. Alexianne Castel placed second in 29.03, followed by Elizabeth Longhill (29.11).

Camille Lacourt established a new French record in the final of the men's 50 back with a time of 24.78, bettering Jeremy Stravius's 24.88 from prelims. Stravius took third in 25.05, while Benjamin Stasiulis was second in 25.03.

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